• On February 17, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi broke diplomatic protocol by personally welcoming Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani of Qatar at the New Delhi airport.
  • This was part of the Emir’s 2-day state visit to India, his second trip since March 2015.
  • PM Modi described the Emir as his "brother" and wished him a productive stay in India.
  • The Emir was greeted by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.

WHY DID THE INDIAN PM BREAK THE PROTOCOL?

  • The personal greeting was a sign of the strong friendship and strategic partnership between India and Qatar.
  • It was also an indication of the importance that both countries place on strengthening their ties.
  • The special gesture showed the growing political, economic, and cultural ties between the two nations.

KEY EVENTS

  • February 17, 2025: Emir arrives in India and holds talks with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.
  • February 18, 2025: A ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, followed by talks with PM Modi at Hyderabad House.
  • MoUs were exchanged, focusing on trade and cooperation in energy, defence, and technology.
  • After the meeting with PM Modi, the Emir met President Murmu.

MAJOR OUTCOMES

  • India and Qatar on Tuesday exchanged an agreement on establishment of strategic partnership between the two countries.
    • The two sides reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthen the bilateral relations through regular and structured cooperation in all areas, including political, trade, investment, security, energy, culture, education, technology, innovation, sustainability and people-to-people ties.
  • A revised agreement for avoidance of double taxation and prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income, between India and Qatar, was also exchanged.
  • The two sides welcomed the elevation of the existing Joint Working Group on Trade and Commerce into a Joint Commission on Trade and Commerce.
  • The two sides agreed to explore the possibility of entering into a bilateral Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement.
  • The two sides welcomed the operationalization of India’s Unified Payment Interface (UPI) in QNB’s Points of Sales in Qatar.
  • QNB’s expansion is also welcomed in India through setting up of an office in GIFT City.
  • Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) to open an office in India.
    • Expressed interest to explore investment opportunities in different sectors, including infrastructure, technology, manufacturing, food security, logistics, hospitality, and other areas of mutual interest.
      • In this regard, the Qatar side announced a commitment to invest USD 10 billion in India.
AREAS OF COOPERATION The Emir’s visit will focus on several key areas of cooperation:
  • Trade and Investment: India and Qatar aim to expand economic cooperation, particularly in energy and technology.
  • Energy Cooperation: Qatar is India’s largest supplier of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), accounting for over 48% of India’s LNG imports in 2022-2023.
  • Qatar also supplies Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), making it the largest source of LPG for India, supplying 29% of India’s total LPG imports.
  • Technology & Innovation: The 2 countries are looking to explore collaboration in renewable energy, fintech, and startups.
  • Defence Cooperation: The visit will also highlight the ongoing defence cooperation between the two countries, which includes training for Qatar’s military personnel by India and participation in defence exhibitions like DIMDEX. Significance of the Visit
  • The visit is especially important because of the strong bilateral ties that have developed between India and Qatar in recent years.
  • Historically, their relationship was relatively quiet, but recent developments have dramatically improved cooperation.

KEY STATISTICS & FACTS

  • Trade Between India and Qatar:
    • The trade value stands at approximately $20 billion.
    • Qatar's exports to India: Key exports include Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), LPG, chemicals, petrochemicals, plastics, and aluminum.
    • India's exports to Qatar: Key exports include cereals, copper articles, iron and steel, fruits and vegetables, spices, machinery, plastic products, and textiles.
  • Energy Cooperation:
    • Qatar is India’s largest supplier of LNG, providing over 48% of India’s LNG imports in 2022-2023.
    • Qatar also supplies 29% of India’s LPG imports, highlighting the importance of the energy trade between the two countries.
  • Defence Ties:
    • India provides defence training to Qatar’s military personnel.
    • Indian naval and coast guard ships regularly visit Qatar for bilateral cooperation.
    • India participates in the Doha International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference (DIMDEX), held biennially in Qatar.
  • Cultural and People-to-People Ties:
    • Indians in Qatar: Approximately 4 lakh Indians live and work in Qatar.
    • They contribute to various sectors including medicine, engineering, finance, business, and media.
    • Indian Companies in Qatar: Around 15,000 Indian companies operate in Qatar, with a cumulative investment of about $450 million.
  • Security and Diplomacy:
    • Qatar has assumed a larger role in West Asian security, mediating between global powers and regional players like the Taliban and Israel-Palestine
    • India and Qatar collaborate on regional security issues, with Qatar serving as a critical player in security discussions.

PENDING ISSUES

  • Despite these strong ties, there is still one pending issue: the return of Indian Navy personnel who were arrested in Qatar in August 2022.
  • 8 former Indian Navy personnel were charged with espionage, and their death sentences were later commuted after India’s intervention.
  • 7 of the men were released to India in February 2023, but 1 remains in detention.